Floor mat



March 26, 1940. i G. F GELL 2,194,653

FLOOR MAT Filed oct. 1; 1938` 11 lll lll/l H5, 7 INVENTOR` BY GEQRGEEGELL f ATTORNEY 5 iPatented Mar.r26, 1940 y Ohio " George F. Geli. East Cleveland, Ohio, 'asslgnor, by direct and mesne assignments, to The Maier Products Company, Inc., Cleveland Heights,

Application October 1, 1938, Serial No. 232.818

6 Clllms.

This invention relates to floor mats, and more particularly to rubber mats. l

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a mat that may be made up of blocks of rubber in any desired color or combination of colors, or containing any desired design or lettering, whereby mats may be convenientlyand easily constructed to embody any desired ornamental design or lettering for advertising or other purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mat construction that may be made in any desired width or length, and that will embody perforations whereby water accumulating on the surface of the mat will pass through to the iioor. A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the body of the mat is supported o the floor so that the space below the mat. will be ventilated and any water -will be permitted to escape. i

Other objects of the invention and the features of novelty will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

embodying my invention, some of the composition blocks forming the upper lsurface of the mat being omitted to show the construction of the metal base.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an edge view of one end of the mat. Fig. i is a. plan view of one of the blocks comprised in the construction illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an edge view thereof or side elevation. Fig. 6 is a detached plan of ya fragment of the nosing strip shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an edge View or end elevation thereof. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a special form of block which may be used in connection with the block 0 illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 for the purpose of securing the design and arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is an edge view or end elevationof the block illustrated in Fig. 8. 45 Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan of a mat having a base similar to that illustrated in Fig. l, but with blocks of a modified form.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of one of the blocks illustrated in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an edge view or side elevation thereof. Referring to the drawing, 2li indicates a bese of sheet metal or other suitable material having uniformly arrangedperforations 2| therein, these perforations being preferably of X-shape and 55 having an enlarged'substantially square central portion 22 with four lobe-like extensions 23 therefrom. As will be evident ,from Fig. i, the per forations 2l do not require four of the extensions 23 as, in the pattern illustrated. only two of the 60 extensions, of each perforation, are employed.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a fragment of a mat- However, I prefer to have four of the extensions 23' on each of the perforaticns so that when the blocks 24 have designs or lettering thereon they may bearra'nged on the base 20, as shown in Fig. 1, or turned 90 from the position shown so that the lugs 25 on the bottom of the blocks will 4engage with a dierent pair of extensions 23. This will permit the attachment of any`of the blocks in four different arrangements and thus' base 2li. The reduced portion of the lug, be-

tween the block proper and the head 2t is adapted to iit in the lobe-like extension of the perforation 2i, and it will be noted that between the rounded end portion of each of the extensions 23 and the central portion 22 of thev perforation there is a narrowed portion 28 through which the lugs 25 may be inserted into the end portions of the extensions 23. The blocksiiare preferably madeof a resilient rubber composition and the lugs 25 will deform sufficiently to permit their insertion through the narrowed portion 28, above referred to. V

In applying the blocks 24 one ofthe lugs thereof is first positioned in the desired extension 23 and then the block is stretched suiilciently to permit the other lug thereon to enter its cooperating extension 2t through the enlarged central portion 22 of the perforation. It should be further noted that the lugs of each block engage with extensions 23 of different perforations so that, when the 'blocks are in position on the base 2t they are interlocked, by means of the lugs 25, with the portion of the base lying between the extensions 23 that are engaged by the lugs.

The base 20 may be made of yany desired width or length and the ends or, in fact. any of the edges of the base may be arranged in a nosing strip 29. This nosing strip is provided on its under surface with` lugs 3l) similar to the lugs 25 and adapted to engage with those perforations which lie beneath the nosing strip. The extreme edge portion of the base is .preferably arranged in a slot 3i in the nosing strip which is, in effect, formed by a retroversion of the upper portion of the strip around underneath the base 20 as shown at 32. The upper surface of the strip 29, adjacent the end thereof, may be curved downwardly as indicated at 33 to form a tapering or sloping end which will reduce the thickness of the mat and thereby lessen the liability for the edge to act as a dangerous obstruction;

In order to permit water to'ow from beneath the mat, the bottom surface of the nosing strip, which engages with the oor, is provided with a series of slots 345.

As will be seen from Fig. 1, the blocks which 2 4 abut against the inner end of the nosing strip 29 are one-half the size of the blocks 2l, so that a neat and harmonious design and arrangement is provided.

The blocks 35 vare shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9 and have two lugs 36 for engaging with perforations inthe base 20.

The blocks 24, as will be noted from Figs. 1 and 4, are of octagonal shape with the edges of adjacent blocks in abutting relation and each group -.of four blocks together forming an opening '21 which registers with the enlarged central portion 22 of the perforations. These openings Y31 allow .water` and dirt to pass/from the upper surface of notches on abutting blocks forming a rectangu.

lar opening 40 which registers with the central portion 22 of the perforation beneath. Each of the blocks 38 has two lugs 4| on its under side for attachment to the base 20.

While I have illustrated and described two preferred forms of blocks it will be evident that blocks of other shapes may also be employed and that the perforations 2| may vary in form without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It will also be understood that the details of construction of the nosing strip 29 may be varied from the construction illustrated.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that my improved mat construction may be made in any desired size or shape and that the metal base will provide a desirable degree of stiffness permitting several mats to be con-` ing. The metal base insures that the mat will retain its shape. In case the base becomes bent or dented by dropping a heavy weight on the mat or by running a heavily loaded truck over it, the metal may be readily restored to a iiat condition by hammering out the bend or dent against a suitable at surface.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a noor mat, the combination` of a sheet metal base having uniformly arranged perforations therein, and resilient composition blocks each having a plurality of lugs on one side which are interloclzingly arranged in said perforations and project below said base to support the latter above the floor, and said blocks being so shaped that adjoining blocks will be in abutting relation and openings will be provided between the blocks which register with said perforations.

2. In a floor mat the combination of a sheet metal base having uniformly arranged perforations therein, and resilient composition blocks having a pair of lugs on one side, each of said lugs being provided with an enlarged head, one of the lugs on ,each block being arranged in one of said perforations and the other in another perforation, said perforations having enlargements 12,194,053v f y through which the heads on said lugs may be inserted and which are so spaced as to require stretching of said blocks in attaching them to said plate to provide an interlocking engagement of the lugs on each block with the portion on the base that lies between the perforations that are engaged by the lugs of the block, said heads on. the lugs being adapted to support said base above the oor, and said blocks being so shaped that adjoining blocks will be in abutting relation and openings will be provided between the"blocks in registration with said forations.

3. In a floor mat, 'the Vcombination of a sheet.

metal base having uniformly arranged X-shaped `enlargements in said Perperforations with enlarged central portions, and

resilient composition blocks each having a pair of headed lugs .on one side one of which engages with one of said perforations and the other of which engages another of said perforations, said lugsv being engageable with saidv perforations through said enlarged central portions and the parts being so proportioned that when oneof the lugs of a block is in position in'a perforation the block 'must be stretched to enter the other lug in the said enlargement of an adjacent perforation and when .the block contracts toits normal size the lugs thereon will be in'interlocking engagement with the portion of the base lying between these perforations.

4. In a oor mat the combination of a sheet metal base having uniformly arranged X-shaped perforations therein, and resilient composition blocks each having headed lugs n one side, the lugs of each block engaging adjacent perforations whereby the block is interlocked with the portionof the base between these perforations, saidl blocks being so shaped that edges of adjoining blocks are in abutting relation and' openings are provided between the blocks in registration with the central portions of said perforations, the heads of said lugs engaging the under surface of said base and supporting the base off the iloor.

5. In a floor mat, the combination of a sheet metal base having uniformly arranged perforations therein, resilient composition blocks having headed lugs on one side in interlocking engagement with said perforations, the heads of said lugs engaging the under side of said base and supporting the base off the floor. and a marginal strip for said base having headed lugs engaging some of said perforations and having an edge which is in abutting relation with edges of the blocks lying adjacent thereto, said strip' being retroverted beneath the margin of said base and acting as a support therefor.

, 6. In a floor mat, the combination of -a sheet metal base having uniformly arranged perforaj tions therein, resilient composition blocks having headed lugs on one side in interlocking lengagement with said perforations, the heads of said lugs engaging the under side of said base and supporting the base off the door, and a marginal strip for said base having headed lugs engaging some of said perforations and having an edge which is in abutting relation with edges of the blocks lying adjacent thereto, said strip being retroverted beneath the margin of said base to support the latter and the bottom surface of the retroverted portion of said strip having passages formed therein to permit the escape of water from beneath the mat.

GEORGE F. GELL. 

